Exam 3 Flashcards
What is a percentile rank? When does it usually begin to stabilize for
height/weight?
“the percentage of individuals whose scores on a measure are equal to or
less than those of the individual child who is being described.”
Two years of age.
What gland controls growth and development? How?
Pituitary gland. Secretes growth hormone.
What are some examples of how social conditions can impact growth and
development? Are these reversible?
Verbally or emotionally abused who get enough to eat may grow at a slow
rate.
Yes, if intervention occurs, children can regain the height/weight
Which functions do the left and right side of the brain usually control?
What is this division called?
Left: language, logic, analysis, math
Right: intuition, creativity, art/music, spatial perception
Lateralization
What age does a person’s earliest memory come from? Why?
3 years. Maturation of connection between the hippocampus and cortex.
What percentage of people are right-handed vs. left-handed? How has
that changed through human history? How do researchers/historians
know?
Right-handed: 83%. Left-handed: 14%. Ambidextrous: 3%.
It hasn’t changed.
The bones of the dominant arm are typically longer than the nondominant
arm. Same percentage lengths in fossils.
When does handedness develop? Do individuals usually become stronger
or weaker at non-dominant hand use with age?
In the fetus. Although, not firmly established until preschool.
Stronger. Older children better at fine motor skills with nondominant hand
than younger children.
What percentage of the time do identical twins have different dominant
hands? Why might this happen?
18%.
Crowding in the womb. Maybe arm with more freedom of movement in the
womb will become dominant.
Describe the study of prenatal handedness conducted by Hepper, Wells,
& Lynch (2004).
Of children who showed righthand dominance prenatally, all were righthanded
at age of 10. Of those who didn’t show clear dominance, 2/3rd
righthanded at age of 10.
Describe the history of lefthandedness in 20th century America.
Many children discouraged or even punished for being lefthanded. Less
lefthanded people among oldest American generation than younger ones.
Mid-century this attitude changed, though, and lefthandedness seen as
fine and even encouraged.
Are lefthanded and righthanded children equally at risk for poor
developmental outcomes?
No. Lefthanded more at risk for poor cognitive and socioemotional
outcomes. But, probably something about causes of lefthandedness rather
than the lefthandedness itself
Describe how the vision of preschoolers differs from older children.
Less peripheral vision until age of 5 and also farsighted (i.e., cannot see
closely well). This is why books for preschoolers are written in large print.
If a child doesn’t speak a few words by the age of two, what will a doctor
likely do?
Check her/his hearing.
Does mild hearing loss place a child at risk for school failure?
Yes.
What causes most cases of hearing loss? What does the American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association do to help prevent this
Exposure to excessive noise.
The ASHA publishes an annual report of toys that might hurt children’s
ears.
At what point in the night do nightmares typically occur? Do they typically
indicate the child is experiencing a psychological issue?
2nd half of the night.
No. They’re normal/typical. But, may occur if parents going through
divorce, etc.
But, researchers in Canada found that only 4% of kids experienced
nightmares. And, those that did more likely anxious and difficult to
manage. And, their mothers had little confidence in their ability to manage
the child. Nightmares may reflect mother-child interaction pattern.
What are night terrors? What likely causes them?
“frightening dreams that usually happen within a couple of hours of a
child’s going to sleep and do not fully awaken the child.” May sit up in bed
and scream. Occurs in first few hours after falling asleep. Children usually
fall back asleep immediately and do not recall dream or incident.
A rapid transition from deep sleep to a drowsy “twilight sleep” state. Tend
to happen when children physically exhausted or under unusual stress.
Not linked to underlying problems.
What is nocturnal enuresis? What causes it? At what age do most health
care professionals consider it problematic?
Bedwetting.
Smaller-than-normal bladder. And/or, deficient production of antidiuretic
hormone (ADH), which signals the kidney to make less urine. In adults
and most children, this produced more at nighttime.
Six years of age. Even though toilet trained earlier, bladder control not
perfect.
Are most kids in early childhood resistant to trying new foods?
Yes. Probably part of our evolutionary heritage.
What do nutritionists recommend for encouraging healthy eating in the
preschool years?
Keep a variety of nutritious foods on hand. Let child’s desire to eat be
guide. Limit access to sweets and other attractive, non-nutritious foods.
Compared to adults, how much food does a preschooler eat? When?
About half as much.
Often not at regular meal times.
Should young children eat more or less fat than adults? Why?
More. Need it for healthy brain development. Whereas adults should get
20-30% fat, kids can be 30-35%
What types of fats lead to increased risk of heart disease? What types of
foods contain these fats?
Trans fats and partially hydrogenated fats. Chips and crackers.
Who is required to report suspected child abuse to state authorities?
Medical professionals, teachers, childcare workers, and anyone working
with children but also, in some states, private citizens.
Describe how cultural differences might influence what is considered child
abuse.
Caribbean cultures have flogging, which is beating a child with a switch or
a stick, for failure to complete chores.
In general, in what U.S. cities is spanking more accepted?
Washington DC and southern cities. Midwest cities a little less. Northern
and western cities less. (based on surveys of college students)
What age children are most at risk for abuse and neglect? Why?
Those under four. [even greater, those under 1]
Caring for young child trying on parents.
Describe sociocultural attitudes that place children at risk for abuse.
Belief that abuse is morally acceptable and/or that children are the
property of the parent.
What characteristics of children place them at greater risk for abuse? Of
parents?
Children: Physical or mental disabilities or difficult temperaments.
Parents: depression, lack of parenting skills or knowledge, history of
abuse themselves, substance abusers, limited empathy, limited impulse
control. Also, non-biological fathers more likely to abuse than biological
Describe the types of child maltreatment.
Sexual abuse: “rape, molestation, or any form of sexual contact.”
Sexual exploitation: “employment, use, persuasion, inducement,
enticement, or coercion of any child to engage in or assist another person
in any sexually explicit conduct or simulation of such conduct either for the
sexual gratification of an adult or for the purpose of a visual depiction of
such conduct.”
Emotional abuse: “injury to the psychological or emotional stability of the
child as expressed in depression, anxiety, withdrawal, changes in
behavior, and/or school performance.”
Parental substance abuse: “manufacturing a controlled substance in the
presence of a child; using drugs in the presence of a child; selling,
distributing, or giving drugs or alcohol to a child; exhibiting impaired
capacity to respond to a child’s needs as a result of alcohol or drug use.”
Abandonment: “leaving a child in circumstances in which the child is likely
to be harmed; leaving caregivers without knowledge of one’s whereabouts
for an extended period of time.”
Are physically abused and neglected children typically able to recover
from its effects?
Yes. If placed in foster care, within a year physical, cognitive, and
emotional differences typically disappear.
Define mental retardation.
“low levels of mental functioning (usually defined as an IQ score below
70…below the 2nd percentile) combined with significant problems in
adaptive behavior.” (e.g., dressing or feeding oneself)
How do children with mental retardation typically differ from other children
in their thinking/information processing?
Process information more slowly; think concretely and have trouble with
abstract reasoning; require more complete and repeated instruction to
learn; do not generalize new learning to other situations; difficulty with
recognition of facial expressions.
Describe the two subgroups of mental retardation and the causal factors
associated with each. Which typically functions at a higher level?
Majority show no signs of brain damage or physical disorder. Cause a
combination of genetic and environmental factors. Come from homes with
mental retardation and disorganization. Prenatal factors also might play a
role, but not typically the strongest role.
15-25% caused by evident physical damage such as Down syndrome,
prenatal influence (e.g., alcohol, drugs), anoxia at birth, or brain trauma.
Those with organic impairment function more poorly.
What are pervasive developmental disorders (PDD)?
“a group of disorders that are characterized by the inability to form social
relationships.” Also known as autism spectrum disorders. Children on
spectrum vary in functionality.
Describe the social and behavioral functioning of children with PDD
Poor communication skills; unable to understand the give-and-take of
relationships; unusual, repetitive behaviors such as hand flapping; some
develop attachments to objects and become anxious or enraged when
separated from them; others engage in self-injurious behavio
Describe the difference between autistic disorder and asperger’s
syndrome. [NOTE: The American Psychiatric Association released a new
version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in
2013, and it did not include Asperger’s Syndrome as a separate disorder.
It’s now considered a milder version of Autistic Disorder.]
Autistic disorder: language delays, impaired social interactions, severely
limited range of interests.
Asperger’s: impaired social interactions but language and cognitive
development fine.
Has autism increased or decreased recently? Why?
Increased. More awareness of disorder.
But, also probably genuine increase in disorder for unknown reasons.
When is autism typically diagnosed? Why?
Between two to three years. When language delays become apparent.
Parents often report a lack of interest in the first year, though.
Describe deficits in “social cognition” children with autism might have.
Can’t predict what others are thinking.
Can’t read facial expressions of emotions. Subsequently, don’t realize how
others respond to their statements
What causes PDD?
Neurological disorder. But, no single origin. Some genetic defects.
Heredity strongly implicated. Among identical twins, 70-90% concordance.
Likely interact with environmental factors, too, though, such as maternal
depression.
Do vaccines cause autism?
Seems “no.” a mercury called thimerosal was suspected. But, large
studies have since found no differences between infants with and without
these vaccines.
What treatments/interventions seem to help children with PDD the most?
Behavior modification strategies to improve communication skills.
Medication sometimes used, but children can respond unpredictably
According to Dr. Shonkoff, how is the “architecture” of a child’s brain developed? How
does genetics play a role?
By the environment of relationships. The interaction with adults (e.g. serve and return
nature of social interactions) shapes the brain. Genetics plays a role of timing and
sequencing in the development.
What is the “use it or lose it” phenomenon?
The synapses we use frequently strengthen while the ones that we do not die off through
pruning.
Should parents of young children focus on nurturing academic skills or emotional
intelligence?
Both. You cannot do one without the other.
What happens when the stress response system is activated?
Heart rate goes up; blood pressure rises; stress hormones are released/increase (i.e.,
adrenaline rush); inflammatory system heats up; and blood sugar rises.
What happens when children experience constant levels of stress, abuse or
maltreatment?
The stress signals in the body stay activated and do not go back down to baseline. It has
a wear-and-tear effect on the body. Risk for heart disease and other health conditions.
Brain cells can die and synapses can wither away.
Why is it important to support healthy brain development from the beginning of life?
More cost effective (e.g., remedial education, incarceration) and leads to better
outcomes than responding to later problems. Can never go back and rewire faulty neural
circuitry.
Will a 6-month-old baby remember a traumatic event?
Consciously, no. But, the body will remember. There will be physiological responses the
body will remember.
Is the brain fully developed at birth? If not, why not?
No. Experiences develop and shape it.
Are younger children more or less vulnerable to trauma? Why?
More. Brain is like a sponge.
In the story about the police ride along, which child was most affected by the domestic
violence (i.e., the 8 year old boy, the 6 year old girl or the 6 month old baby)?
The 6 month old baby. Seriously injured another child in preschool.
What does the cerebral cortex (i.e., the top part of the brain) depend on in order to
develop correctly?
The brain stem and the midbrain (i.e., the bottom part of the brain) need to develop
healthily.
What problems in early relationships are often seen in children exposed to
violence/constant stress?
Trouble with attachment or bonding with others.
Who has higher rates of mental health problems: children who were victims of domestic
abuse or children who have grown up witnessing domestic violence?
Children who have grown up around domestic violence.
To help children exposed to domestic violence, what two things does Dr. Perry mention
we should try to get them to do?
Talk about their feelings and emotions.
Understand it was not their fault.
Do biological tests for Autism exist?
No. It is behaviorally defined.
What medications exist for Autism?
None.
Which gender more often has Autism?
Boys (1 of every 54 boys)
How does Dr. Schumann define Autism?
1) repetitive behaviors and 2) social communication deficits.
How does brain development in children with autism differ from other children?
Their brain grows too large and too quickly. In later years, there is a decrease of size or
degeneration.
What happens when children do not get enough sleep at night?
They are not able to concentrate or perform as well in school, especially with tasks that
are complex. Also, more likely to become depressed, sick, or obese.
Why is sleep important for children?
Brain development and emotional regulation
How do poverty and poor sleep combine?
Not well. Poverty is an added stress on children, which intensifies the effects of poor
sleep.
Who needs sleep the most?
Kids from poor homes. It “levels the playing field.”
According to Piaget, what is egocentrism? How did he assess for it?
“a young child’s belief that everyone sees and experiences the world the
way s/he does.”
Three Mountain Task.
What is centration? How does it lead to animism?
“a young child’s tendency to think of the world in terms of one variable at a
time.”
Child might simply think “anything that moves is alive.”
What is conservation? How did Piaget assess for it?
“the understanding that matter can change in appearance without
changing in quantity”
conservation of number: same number of marbles in circles of different
diameters
conservation of liquid: beakers of different sizes
conservation of mass: dough of different sizes
conservation of area: cows in field with same number of blocks/barns
either bunched or spread out
What evidence suggests children are not completely egocentric at ages
younger than Piaget thought?
Two and three year olds play and speak differently based on age of
playmate.
Describe Flavell’s study on appearance and reality.
Painted a sponge to look like a rock. 3-year-olds either said it was a rock
and looked like a rock or was a sponge and looked like a sponge. 4-5-
year-olds able to say looked like a rock but was a sponge.
What is theory of mind?
“a set of ideas constructed by a child or adult to describe, explain, and
make predictions about other people’s knowledge and behavior, based on
inferences about their mental states.”
Describe Flavell’s study on the false belief principle.
Box with candy pictures on outside. But, actually crayons inside. 3-yearolds
thought another would think crayons inside. 4-5-year-olds thought
they’d think candy.
What type of play seems to help young children develop theory of mind?
Shared pretend play
On average, who develops appearance/reality understanding more
quickly, monolingual or bilingual children? Why?
Bilingual. Experience that one must suppress assumption other knows
what you’re talking about.
Why does the neo-Piagetian Robbie Case think young children perform
poorly on Piagetian tasks?
They have limited short-term storage space. Can only think of one thing at
a time.
Why might a social worker tell a parent not to talk to her/his child about
suspected sexual abuse by an adult (at least initially)?
Don’t want to distort child’s memory of details. Children very suggestible.
Even if something didn’t happen, if asked about it repeatedly, a child may
come to report it happened.
What is metamemory?
“knowledge about how memory works and the ability to control and reflect
on one’s own memory function.”
In a Vygotskian classroom, what’s a technique teachers will often use?
Guided participation: “an intervention strategy in which children become
teachers’ apprentices rather than passive recipients of instruction.” Task
initiated by child, and teacher and child would complete it. Teachers only
provides hints and clues needed.
